Friday 11 December 2020
9
Opinion
“No, this isn’t a panic Masters” Amber O’Connor explains why she thinks going back to university if you are struggling to find a job is not the right move.
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No this isn’t a panic Masters”, I say, for what feels like the millionth time. It’s a question I have been jokingly asked a lot in the past few months, after telling friends I want to stay at university for another year. Granted, most people would like to stay at university longer – who wouldn’t want to sign up to another year of student fun, being surrounded by your friends, and avoiding the dreaded job search? Surprisingly though, I didn’t make this important life decision out of sheer panic, or simply because I couldn’t give up nights out at the SU. Signing up for the most intensive year of academic work I’ve ever undertaken, and thousands of pounds more in student debt, was
in require a higher qualification, or maybe you feel you need another university course to develop your skill set. But if you have no clear justification for needing an extra degree besides wishing to delay your job search, you are likely wasting your money – and master’s courses can be expensive. Providing you meet the academic specifications for the positions you are interested in, going back to university isn’t of much real use, besides filling your time until you hope the job market might have improved. By committing to another academic year, you also solidify the fact you won’t find a graduate role within the next year; stopping searching for current availabilities means you might miss a position you could
not a decision I took lightly. In fact, it is a decision that students should only make if they have good reason to do so, and panicking about finding a job after university definitely doesn’t count as one of these. Entering the job market, which is a daunting task at any time, has been made more difficult by the pandemic, but even if you are struggling to find a job, this shouldn’t be the basis for beginning a master’s application. To start with an obvious point, if you’ve just finished your degree and have not been accepted for any positions you are qualified for, what will another year of university do to help your chances? You’ve got a degree now, so how will another degree affect your employability? Perhaps the roles you are interested
have ended up getting. Another thing that goes without saying, is that university is difficult. If you decide to continue your education, it ought to be because you truly want to be there, learning more about your chosen subject. Motivating yourself for exams can be a struggle at the best of times, but I’m willing to bet doing so is even harder if you only see your course as a means to an end. As when undertaking anything that will involve a lot of work, you should be certain this will be a worthwhile investment of your time. A master’sis not the only way to develop your skills, and the time you would devote to further education might be better suited to other uses, depending on your career path. Once you have the academic
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If you’ve just finished your degree and have not been accepted for any positions you are qualified for, what will another year of university do to help
qualification necessary for your profession, it may be practical experience that you need to gain to better your career prospects. Undertaking work experience and completing internships, and making contacts within your industry could also benefit your applications. Depending on your chosen career you might wish to complete online courses, shadow professionals, attend networking events, enrol on webinars, find a mentor, or undertake work to further your skills and develop your portfolio. From paid temporary work to volunteering roles, there are multiple avenues, each of which can offer new learning experiences. The benefit of such an approach is that if you are able to find a work position, albeit not in your preferred field, you can save money too. In opposition to everything I’ve said about the benefits of finding alternate methods of learning, studying a master’s might be a brilliant choice for you. Just a few months into my own master’s course, I have been able to develop new skills and strengthen existing ones, and the intensity of my programme also means I have picked them up much quicker than I would have been able to in other circumstances. The expertise of my lecturers ensures I receive a thorough education, and I am assured all vital areas I need to learn for my profession will be covered. In short, I have found a course that provides me with the learning that will best benefit my career, and I love getting to stay at university to study something I’m passionate
Above: Amber, postgrad Journalism student
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If you decide to continue your education, it ought to be because you truly want to be there, learning more about your chosen subject
about. If you are struggling to find a job after graduation, you might be tempted to pick up master’s brochures, and you might end up finding something that truly excites you. It isn’t uncommon for people to look to master’s courses when they encounter the difficulty of finding a job, but master’s courses are but one of multiple post-graduation choices. Should you then choose to complete one, make sure it is for a good reason.